Community can have their cake – and eat it!
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BEING part of the community is something that's important to Inverness solicitors and estate agents Innes & Mackay – that's why the firm wants to help find a champion.
Readers of five Scottish Provincial Press newspapers across the north of Scotland are being encouraged to nominate their local heroes across 12 categories in this year's Highland Heroes awards, which are now in their second year.
Lisa Law, a director at Innes & Mackay, said: "The event is still very new and, from the work we do here, we can see that the people in our community are often the unsung heroes and it's nice to see them recognised through Highland Heroes.
"We are a very community-based firm and we put a lot back in to the community, which is why we've sponsored the community champion category."
And these are not just empty words – the firm is keen to not only make donations to local charities but also to give them help and support. For example, for the last six months it has helped out at the community café at Kirkhill for two days a month, helping to keep it running when it is short of volunteers.
Lisa said: "We go out and we volunteer. We know how important it is to get more people helping because there is a shortage of volunteers.
"It's a community-run café and they were struggling so we put two volunteers in once every four weeks and we man the café for the day. We also do a lot of charity events – we like to be able to give time as well as making a monetary contribution."
Giving time is what the community champion category is all about. We are looking for somebody who has made a real difference by making a significant contribution to their community.
"There are a lot of people who we come across on a daily basis who are caring, who are making contributions to their community in all different ways, whether it's voluntary or actually part of their work," said Lisa.
"Because of the areas we deal with, we come across social services, we come across nurses, doctors, carers, parents who are carers – and these people just get on with it and are often going above and beyond and going the extra mile.
"They are not looking for recognition but it's very nice that they will be recognised."
To nominate somebody you feel deserves recognition in this or any other category, fill in this form and post it to Highland Heroes, Scottish Provincial Press, New Century House, Stadium Road, Inverness, IV1 1FG or email it to heroes@spp-group.com. You can also nominate your Highland Heroes online at www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/HighlandHeroes2018
The deadline for nominations is midnight on Saturday, September 1.
A judging panel will draw up a shortlist in each category before readers are given the opportunity to vote for their favourites.
The winners will be announced at a ceremony at the Kingsmills Hotel in Inverness on Thursday, November 8.
Lisa added: "We've got a very strong commitment to the community and it's very much at the heart of this firm to give back wherever we can, so something like Highland Heroes is obviously a very good way to recognise people who have made a contribution and show appreciation for what they've done."
